Counterfeit Airbags from China Are Detonating in US Vehicles, Resulting in Fatalities | Carscoops

      Airbags produced by the Chinese company DTN can be as much as ten times cheaper than legitimate alternatives, but the NHTSA has issued warnings about their dangers.

      Counterfeit airbag inflators from China are being retrofitted into vehicles in the United States.

      A 22-year-old mother tragically died in Florida when the airbag detonated violently.

      The Transportation Secretary has cautioned that repair shops installing these airbags are committing crimes.

      A recent federal investigation has brought attention to potentially lethal aftermarket airbag components after several crashes unveiled catastrophic failures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation after seven incidents involving defective inflators, five of which resulted in fatalities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a strong warning, labeling these devices as "dangerous."

      The components being examined are thought to originate from Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology, known as DTN Airbag. Investigators claim that the company's inflators include volatile chemicals that can ignite during deployment, leading to erratic and uncontrolled airbag inflation.

      Counterfeit Parts Available

      According to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the investigation, the NHTSA has linked DTN to seven incidents, including five fatalities due to airbag inflators. One such fatal incident occurred as recently as July.

      Reports indicate that numerous repair shops and assemblers have been importing these inexpensive airbag inflators from abroad, often without realizing their counterfeit nature. The WSJ noted that DTN's products closely resemble genuine parts but are sold at significantly lower prices, sometimes as little as one-tenth of the authentic items' cost.

      Bob Stewart, president of the Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council and global brand protection manager at General Motors, remarked to the newspaper that, "These fakes are often built with subpar materials and are more prone to failure since they merely imitate the engineering of the authentic product."

      The issue became publicly evident in the U.S. after the family of 22-year-old Destiny Byassee filed a lawsuit in Florida. The young mother died in a crash while driving her 2020 Chevrolet Malibu at just 30 mph (48 km/h). Investigators claim a counterfeit DTN inflator was installed and that it exploded "like a grenade," projecting sharp metal and plastic fragments into her neck.

      Federal Warning

      Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made a strong statement, saying, "My message to the auto repair industry is clear: those who are importing this faulty Chinese equipment and installing it are endangering American families and committing serious crimes." He has called on repair shops and distributors to stay alert, stressing that DTN inflators present a direct threat to public safety.

      There is no information regarding how many vehicles in the U.S. may be equipped with counterfeit DTN airbag inflators. The company asserts that its products are prohibited from sale in the U.S. and maintains it does not operate in the country.